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Does willpower have its limits?

Posted to Gurteen Knowledge-Log by David Gurteen on 28 July 2010

 



Title

Does willpower have its limits?
WeblogGurteen Knowledge Log
Knowledge LetterAppears in the Gurteen Knowledge Letter issue: 121
Posted DateWednesday 28 July 2010 12:32 GDT
Posted ByDavid Gurteen
Linkshttp://www.cognitive-edge.com/blogs/dave/2010/07/from_commun ... 
http://www.johnniemoore.com/blog/archives/002530.php ... 
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-willpow ... 
http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/id/X0005106E/ ... 
PeopleDave Snowden, Johnnie Moore , Ellen J. Langer

This is an interesting post on Willpower and its limits from Johnnie Moore that comments on a report on research from Scientific American: Setting your mind on a goal may be counterproductive. Instead think of the future as an open question.

It has aspects in common with Dave Snowden's thoughts on From communication strategies to emergence and Ellen Langer on Mindful Learning.

This is the kind of research that is so important as it questions ways of thinking and working, so deeply entrenched that we take them for granted. For example, how many self-help books go on and on about the importance of clarifying and focusing on your objectives. Wouldn't it be tragic if this were actually counterproductive?

I am very much in the camp of "figure out broadly where you want to go and the rough direction and start walking today" - you never know you may see things along the way that are far more appealing than your initially desired destination and the walking is part of the living :-) Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Henry David Thoreau.



If you are interested in Knowledge Management, the Knowledge Café or the role of conversation in organizational life then you my be interested in this online book I am writing on Conversational Leadership
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